More people died in sea rescues in the Solent over the last year than ever before, according to new coastguard figures.

Yet while the number of deaths increased, the total number of sea incidents fell by 14% during the same period.

Lee-on-Solent Coastguard District Controller Bob Woodwark said: "Nearly one fifth of all recorded incidents were due to machinery failure of one sort or another.

"We hope to mount a campaign to target this category over the coming spring and summer."

Lee-on-Solent Coastguard figures 2002

1215 incidents 763 call-outs 1774 people assisted 276 people rescued 38 lives lost

Between 2001 and 2002, the total number of sea rescue incidents in the Solent fell from 1,405 to 1,215.

There was also a 42% drop in the number of people actually rescued from emergency situations.

But a spokesman for Lee-on-Solent Coastguard told BBC News Online there was no obvious reason for the rise in the death toll from 28 to 38.

He said: "There have been no major incidents over the last year that would explain the increased figure, nor has our coastguard district increased in size.

"It has just been an exceptional year" he said.

Controversial plans to move the Portland Coastguard helicopter in Dorset to the Solent Coastguard base at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, could now gather pace as a result of the new figures.